'Open primary' a political misnomer that marginalizes Republicans, third parties (guest opinion)

This misleading measure is an effort to further minimize odds of the Republican Party and other minority parties in Oregon from winning elections.

By Jayne Carroll

Liberals have a remarkable talent for naming legislation, ballot measures or movements for maximum positive political impact. From identifying the costly and controversial legislation known commonly as Obamacare "The Affordable Care Act" to their crusade for aborting babies as "pro-choice," their attempts to set the stage for maximum public acceptance are often nothing short of masterful.

Their latest Oregon political misnomer is a campaign to eliminate party primaries in Oregon which they call the "Every Oregon Voter Counts" petition drive. They have already obtained, in what the supporters call the fastest effort to to get a measure on the ballot in Oregon history, more than enough signatures to qualify for a statewide vote.

The proposed ballot measure would replace Oregon's present primary system, where voters determine the nominees of the parties in which they are registered with the victors facing off against each other in the General Election, with an "open primary" in which everyone, regardless of party affiliation, selects the top two contenders to face off in the fall.

Candidates can indicate on the ballot their party affiliation and/or whether they have been endorsed by their party; the top two finishers, regardless of party affiliation, will advance to the general election.

Supporters of the measure promise higher voter turnout by allowing the approximately 650,000 registered Oregon voters who are affiliated with third parties or no political party to participate in the selection of the top two contenders.

This sounds benign, but one needs to look no farther than the city of Portland to see exactly what will happen. The last Republlcans elected to the Portland City Council were Connie McCready, who was originally appointed in 1970, and Bob Koch in 1986. Since that time, Portland's "non-partisan" city council races have attracted progressively more and more Democrats. Republicans and others need not apply.

Proponents, overwhelmingly Democrats, will claim that there are legislative districts where Republicans have the majority and therefore will still be assured of winning these seats. Perhaps, but most of these districts are rural and rare. Statewide, where Democrats enjoy a large registered voter plurality, the top two contenders will likely end up being a face-off between one liberal Democrat and another.

Supporters of the measure argue that it will be fairer by allowing independents (voters not affiliated with any political party) and third-party members a voice in selecting the final two contenders. In reality, this process all but obliterates third-party candidates. In the present system, a Green Party or Libertarian candidate has a chance of being heard in the General Election. While third-party candidates are long shots, they have a far better chance of having their values articulated in a General Election when their candidates are on the ballot.

Under the proposed system, third-party candidates will never be given a chance for even long shot General Election consideration.

Even voters registered as Republicans or Democrats, not in line with their party's establishment, will have their voices muted. Newcomer candidates, who presently can make their cases in the primary process, will be discouraged from taking on entrenched incumbents and darlings of the establishment.

Presently, unaffiliated registered voters who support a particular candidate in the Democratic or Republican primary can register to vote as a member of that party. Voters registered in third parties can do the same or vote for their party nominee of choice.

The misnomer "Every voter counts" is a brilliant campaign tactic, but in reality this misleading measure is an effort to further minimize the odds of the Republican Party and other minority parties in Oregon from winning elections. If you like the idea of Oregon's 2014 election for governor as a choice between Democrat John Kitzhaber (going for his fourth term) and Democrat Ted Kulongoski (for his third term) in the General Election, you'll love "every vote for a Democrat will count."